The Blessing Of Lilies On The Feast Of St. Anthony

On the Feast of St. Anthony, your priest might bless lilies for you to keep (this isn't a universal practice). The blessing of lilies, which remind us of St. Anthony's purity and have always been a symbol for him, stems from a miracle which took place in Revolutionary France: many priests and religious were murdered, so many churches and convents destroyed, but the faithful still showed up at a surviving church on the Feast of St. Anthony. Months later, it was discovered that lilies that had adorned the church at that feast were still fresh. Let the lilies beautify your house, or carry them with you, or press them in a book, etc. If your priest doesn't bless lilies, you can still use them non-sacramentally to remind you of one of the greatest Saints ever. The English of the Blessing of the Lilies is as follows:

The Blessing of Lilies on the Feast of St. Anthony

The priest vests in surplice and white stole, and says:

P: Our help is in the name of the Lord.
All: Who made heaven and earth.
P: The Lord be with you.
All: And with thy spirit.
P: Let us pray. God, the Creator and Preserver of the human race, the Lover of holy purity, the Giver of supernatural grace, and the Dispenser of everlasting salvation; bless + these lilies which we, Thy humble servants, present to Thee today as an act of thanksgiving and in honor of St. Anthony, Thy confessor, and with a request for Thy blessing. Pour out on them, by the saving sign + of the holy cross, Thy dew from on high. Thou in Thy great kindness hast given them to man, and endowed them with a sweet fragrance to lighten the burden of the sick. Therefore, let them be filled with such power that, whether they are used by the sick, or kept in homes or other places, or devoutly carried on one's person, they may serve to drive out evil spirits, safeguard holy chastity, and turn away illness--all this through the prayers of St. Anthony--and finally impart to Thy servants grace and peace; through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
Then he sprinkles the lilies with holy water, saying:

P: Sprinkle me with hyssop, Lord, and I shall be clean of sin. Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Pray for us, St. Anthony.
All: That we may be worthy of the promises of Christ.
P: Let us pray. We beg Thee, O Lord, that Thy people may be helped by the constant and devout intercession of Blessed Anthony, Thy illustrious confessor. May he assist us to be worthy of Thy grace in this life, and to attain everlasting joys in the life to come; through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
After this the lilies are distributed to the people.

Source: http://www.st-anthony-medal.com/

I Was So Amazed

The following email is from a reader in the Philippines:

I am sharing an answered prayer a long time ago and two again recently.
7 years ago the strap of my sandal shoes was missing. I looked everywhere yet I couldn't find it. I have read in my novena booklet that St. Anthony is the patron of lost things. Silently, I asked St. Anthony to help me find it. After a few days I went inside the kitchen and I just found it on the floor. I was so amazed. I never thought I'd find it again.

My cellphone's sim card had been missing. I know it fell somewhere near the chair where I sat. I looked and lifted things around me and even swept the floor. I couldn't find it. Then one day I was wiping dust in the chair, when I lifted it I found it underneath. I swept the floor on that side before but did not find it. Now that's a miracle.

Today June 4, 2013 is the start of the Novena to St Anthony - I was looking again for my Sim card which I placed inside the pocket of my walking shorts. I couldn't find it. I asked St. Anthony to help me. Later in the afternoon, for the second time, I checked the pockets of my walking shorts. There it was! Wow, St. Anthony never fails in helping me find lost articles.
I always say a Novena to St. Anthony every Tuesday. Thanks, and may the website of St. Anthony help many people in need.

Thank you J.M. for your faith-filled stories. Do you have a story of St. Anthony's assistance in your life to share? Email it to us and we will post your story on our St. Anthony blog too~

Article On Relics Of Saint Anthony's Visit To California

The following is from Messenger of Saint Anthony's June Newsletter, an article about the relic of Saint Anthony's visit to California:
Southern California was drizzling and cloudy when it welcomed the relics of Saint Anthony in mid-April, but the glow and joy of visitors certainly provided the warmth and spiritual sunshine on the first stops of the 8-day tour of the region. Indeed, the reverence and outpouring of adoration by the visiting faithful mirrored a deep love for the Saint who has touched, inspired and influenced so many for so long.
The Southern California stopover was part of a larger nationwide tour of Saint Anthony’s relics organized by the Messenger of Saint Anthony and directed by the Franciscan Friars of the Basilica of Saint Anthony in Padua, Italy.
Locally, Father Ray Mallet, pastor at Our Lady of Guadalupe in Hermosa Beach, was instrumental in facilitating the relics into and around the Greater Los Angeles area. It was a yearlong process of coordination and planning, he said, but the end result was a powerful, prayerful experience for many. “So many things in this life we are told not to touch,” he said, “but we want people to touch – respectfully of course – these relics. This is our connection to our faith.”
Click here to read the rest of this inspiring article.